Survival horror is a subgenre of horror games. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical action games through limited ammunition or weapons, health, speed, and vision, or through various obstructions of the player's interaction with the game mechanics.
So, yes, something as subtle as whether or not defeated monsters drop supplies can make the difference between whether a game is an action-horror game or a survival horror game. Although it seems like a small thing, it can have a huge effect on the pacing and atmosphere of a game.